Heel-building machine



Apr. 24, I923.

' E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed D86 20, 1915- 7Shecs-Sheet 1' Apr. 24, 1923. 1,452,669

E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 20, 19157-Sheets-Sheet 2 I i I E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Apr; 24,1923.

Origi l Fil d Dec- 20, '1915 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Apr. 24, 1923.

I E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 20,1915 7Sheets-She s; 4

- Apr.;24, 1923. 1,452,669

v E. 5. WINKLEY i HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 20, 1915 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Apr. 24, 1-923.

E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original File Dec. 20, 1915 '1Sheets- Sheet 6 Apr. 24, 1923.

E. E. WINKLEY HEEL BUILDING MACHINE Original Filed Dec.

20, 1915 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Apr. 24, 1923.

warren stares rarest orifice.

ERASTUS E. "WINKLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY CORPORATION, 01 PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 016 NEWJERSEY.

HEEL-BUILDING HZACHINE.

Application filed December 29, 1915, Serial No. 67,81

To all whom may we "a: I

I Be it known that 1., En. E. lViNnnnY, a citizen of the United Mtates,residing at Lynn, in the county of lfils ez; and State of Tiassaclmsettshave invented cer in new and useful Improvements in Hee -Buildin;glilachinesz, and it do hereby declare the following; to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention such as will ei'iableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

'lhisinvention relates to heel i achines, and more particularly to suchmachines for preparing heel blocks for the heel compress-- i119;operation by assembling pasted lifts of heel material into a block ofthe proper contour and subjecting the resultant shaped heel pile topressure for a surlicient length of time to insure the setting of thepaste. although many features of the invention are applicable tomachines of widely diile'z ent characteristics.

It has heretofore been the practice to semble the pasted heel lifts in asuitable matrix. or former, and then to transfer the pile so produceomanually from the former to a pressing machine, in which it is heldunder pressure while the paste dries and sets. In accordance with thismode of operation it has been found necessary to drive one or more nailsthrough the heel lifts in order to hold them temporarily in theircorrect as sembled relation while the pile is being transferred from theformer to the press.

One object of the present invention is to combine the assembling andpressing instrumentalities in a. single unitary machine in such a mannerand relation that the na'ilin operation may be eliminated -Accordingly afeature of the invention comprises the combination with a seriesofintermittently movable heel blocs holders or presses, of heel-former forshaping pasted heel lifts into the proper contour of block and movableto transfer the shaped blocks to the presses. The press'structure andheel-former are so associated and operated that the pasted heel pile isdelivered directly to the press from the formcn and by the movement ofthe former. the alined h eel pile remaining under the control of theformer until it has been seized by one of the movable series of prest-s. The construction of the heel-former. 'Tlii) manner in which it isactuated, preferably in CC"O1CI'L'L- Renewed July 10, 1922. Serial No.573,917.

tion with a second heel-former and the release and withdrawal thereoffrom the clamped heel block so that a former may constantly be presented1n receiving position.

all form features of novelty in the combina* the moving parts as tosuccessively prepare the presses for the introduction of freshly shapedheel piles at each forward step of the series of presses.

A further object of the invention is to improve the construction andoperation'of heel pressses of the type referred to in such manner as toprovide for speed in operation by reducing to a minimum the weight ofthe moving parts, and for efficiency through an accurate control of theindividual presses. One means to this end is the provision of heelclamps each normally held closed, preferably by a spring, andco-operating clamp opening means that operates independently of theadvancing movement of the clamps. After being opened against theopposition of its closing device, each clamp is held open for ejectionof the pressed heel block and until it is loaded with a new heel block.A further means by which an eflicient and accurate ooeration is attainedis a design of the mac ineproviding for all the operations upon theclamps and the ejection and loading of the heel blocks during the briefperiods of rest of the intermittently movable endless series of heelpresses.

Other objects of the invention, and the features of construction andoaeration b which they are attained, will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment. Theinventiom in its broader asoects is not confined to thesiecific structural details and mode of operation set forth, and theadvantages and. benefits there of may be attained by machines differingwidely in certain respects from that shown and described. Nor is theinvention limited to the conjoint use of all its features, and it willbe understood from this specification that it is within the scope of theinvention to use some features without others or tocoinbine the variousfeatures in rlitfer-- cut manner than is described as the pre ferredcombination. Thereofore, only such ill) limitations should be imposed asare indicated in the appended claims.

In this specification the term heel lift is used inclusively todesignate pieces of inaterial,"of whatever nature they may be, that areutilized as the components of the heel being built, and the term heelblock is used to designate the product obtained by piling the. pastedlifts prior to the compressing, operation, that is, either the freshlypasted heel pile, which is a wet or green heel block, or the dry,pressed heel pile ready for the heel compressing operation, in order todistinguish this article from the comiueixial heel blank which is aproduct of the. heel compressor.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,

in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying theinvention. I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the main portion of the machine, on alarger scale than Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the left hand end of the machine, showing thesprocket wheels on that end in section;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the right hand end of the'machine, showing thesprocket wheels at that end in section;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the heel former mechanism and two of the bedsof the heel block presses;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cam mechanism for operating the left handheel block formerslide and heel press operating mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the stop cam and its associated levermechanism; and

Fig. 10 is a detail view, in vertical section. of one of theheel-presses.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings themachine is shown as having a frame composed of a vertical front plate 2and a rear-plate 3 4 and 5) which are spaced in parallel, fixed relationby an intermediate box frame 4, suitably secured to the vertical plates.The rear plate 3 and the front plate 2 have their uppermost edges in thesame plane, but the clutch member on the pulley 10. i The shaft- 11 issupported in journals in the frameof the machine, and is provided on itsinner end with a worm 14 (Fig. 2) which meshes with and drives a wormwheel 15 secured,

which are adapted to mesh, once in each revolution of the shaft 16, witha complementary interrupted gear 21, which is fixed on a transverseshaft 23 journaled at the left hand ends of the plates 2 and 3. The gear21 has a plurality of sets of teeth disposed on successive. equal,separated arcs. This mechanism will be recognized as the ordinary Genevastop motion.

The shaft 23 also carries a pair of spaced sprocket wheels 2%, arrangedin common vertical planes with a second pair of parallel spocket wheels26 which are secured. at the right hand end of the machine, on atransverse shaft 27 (see Fig. 1). pairs of sprocket wheels are connectedby parallel sprocket chains 28, the upper stretches of the chainsrunning approximately in the horizontal plane of the upper edges of thefront and rear frame members 23. i

The matrices or formers in which the lifts are deposited are mounted atthe upper front portion of the frame, upon a forwardly projecting shelf30 (Figs. 2, 4: and 7) to which is secured a removable base-plate 31having Ways 32 provided for the sliding movement of right and left handslides Each slide 33 has a. horizontal body'por'tion, runningin theslide ways 32, and a perpendicular side wall 34-. To the top edge of thewall 3 1 is secured a plate 35 which. projects horizon tally over andsomewhat abovetable 36 which is secured, by screws 37, to the centralportion of the base-plate 31. The former in which the lifts aresuccessively piled, or in which a green heel block .may be deposited,comprises two members in the form of arms 39. These arms are pivoted, attheir forward ends, on studs 38 depending from the plate 35, andthearmsrest upon the tablet-3G. Each of the arms 39 is provided withaperpendicula-r breast'gage surface 40 and one or more side gagingsurfaces 11, 12 which latter are formed according to the style and shapeof the lateral surface of the heel to be built. As shown' in Fig. 6, thebreast gages 40 are ina common vertical-plane and the rear ends of thearms 39 are providetl with gage surfaces -12 which are inclined inwardly and, downwardly inconforn'iity :to

The two the pitch of the heel to be produced. The intermediate sidegages ll are also inclined inwardly and downwardly to fit the sides ofthe heel. With this construction, the matrix or heel-former will effecta transverse or edgewise shifting into alined position of individualheel lifts superposed in the matrix, or will transversely shift thecomponent lifts of a green heel block which may have been built outsideof the matrix and then placed therein, and thus properly aline the liftsfor the subsequent heel compressing operation.

For the purpose of automatically closing the matrix arms 39 intoreceiving position (Fig. 6) each arm is provided with a lat orallyextending cam lug 45. Vhen the slide 33 is moving toward the front ofthe machine the lugs engage fixed abutments 46 on the top of thebase-plate 31 and the assembling table 36 whereby the aws or arms 39 areswung toward each other, about their pivots 38, to the position shown inFig. 6, whereupon they are automatically latched together by a springcatch 47 pivoted on one of the awe and engaging a keeper 48 on theopposite jaw.- (hen the arms are latched together they closely embrace alug 50, which depends from the plate 35, and this lug acts to centralizethe former and the heel-pile held therein. The out-ward, or opening,movement of the former jaws 39 is limited by step pins 51 carried by theplate 35. The surface of the table 36 provides a support for thelowermost lift of the heel block.

It is a feature of the present invention that an operative can work tocontinuously supply heel lifts to former without having to wait on theoperation of the machine to bring former to receiving position, and forthat purpose the two formers are moved alternately to carry to thepresses a completed pile of lifts, so that one or the other of them isout in the filling, or lift receiving, 1. osition all of the time.

For the foregoing purpose each slide 33 is connected, by a pin 59, to alink 60 (Fig. 3) which extends rearwardly and is connected to the upperend of a cam lever 61 (Fig. 8) which carries arolle'r 62. The roller 62of the right hand former slide 33 operates in a groove formed in a camdisk 63 secured on the shaft 19, while the roller 62 of the left handformer operates in a groove formed in a cam disk 6% on the shaft 19 (seeFig.

Both of the formers must be out of the path of movement of the pressesduring the intermittent adi'ancing movements of the latter. In order toeconomize in the time of operation the conveyor is moved, at each op-61'2Il3i011,tl1101lgl1 the space of two presses, and prior to suchmovement each of the two formers. after having received a heel-pile, ora series of heel-lifts assembled therein, is rellldCllGLi to deliver theheel-pile to the corresponding press. Thus two presses are loaded andtwo are discharged during each dwell of the conveyor, and then the twoformers are brought to their forward posit-ions to permit the filledpresses to be moved away, and the two presses from which heels have justbeen discharged to be brought into cooperative re lation with theformers.

After a heel block has been built as described in one of the formers itis carried rearwardly by the former, across the table 36, and depositedin a heel block press. Fixed to the chains 28 are a series of pressplates 7 0 each carrying a press structure so that each press is movedby the conveyor, which is formed by the press plates and the endlesssprocket chains 28, through a continuous orbit. lVhen traveling in theupper horizontal stretch of the orbit, adjacent the top the machine, theends of the press plates slide upon parallel. supporting rails 71 whichare secured to the upper edges of the front and rear frames 2 and 3.These rails serve the purpose of supporting the upper stretch of theendless conveyor and also insure the proper alinement of the pressstructure with the matrices.

Integral with each press plate 70, adjacent the rear end thereof, is adepending bracket 72 which supports a heel block receiving bed 73 (Figs.4 and 5) the surface of which is maintained by the supporting rails 71,while the plates 7 O bear thereon, in substantially the same plane asthe top of the table 36. The front edges of the bed plates 73 run closeto the rear edge of the table 36 (see Fig. 6) so that, when a matrix isshifted across the table 36 the heel block carried therein may easily beplaced on the bed plate. It will be understood that the bed plates areintermittently held stationary in heel block receiving position by theGeneva stop mechanism herei before referred to.

After a heel block has been transferred from the table 36 to aregistering press bed plate 73 (Figs. f and 5) it is then clampedthereon by a platen 74, of suitable form, which is mounted on the lowerend of a stem 75 (Fig. 10) which slides vertically through the pressplate 70. This stem is automatically pressed downward by an expansionspring 76, mounted upon the reduced upper portion of the stem 75, and isguided in an upper bearing 77 against which the upper end of the spring76 abuts.

For the purpose of lifting the platen T l at a predetermined position ofthe press in its orbit, there is clamped to the upper end of the stem 75a collar 78, to which is pivoted, at 79, the upper link 80 of a toggle,the lower link 81 of which is pivoted at 82 on the upper side of thepress plate 70. When the toggle 8081 is straightened it operates to liftthe platen 74 against the force of the spring 76, and when the toggle80--81 is broken (as in Fig. 10) the spring comprise a lever 84 (Fig. 4)loosely pivoted upon a pivot rod 85 which is mounted above the top ofthe framein a pair of end brackets 86. The lever 84 cooperates with anarm 83 projecting rearwardly from the lower link 81 of the toggle, andit has a rearwardly extending arm which is connected, at 87, tothe upperend of a vertical actuating link 88 (Fig. 8'). The link 88 is connected,at its lower end, to av bell crank cam lever 89, which is pivoted upon apivot rod 90 supported, at its ends, in the frame legs 66. This pivotrod also supports the cam levers 61'. One arm of the bell crank 89 isprovided with a roller 91 which operates in a groove in a cam disk 92mounted on the cam shaft 19. The cam 92 is so designed that,

after aheel block has been shifted by the former into one of the pressesaline'd therewith, the link88 will descend, rocking the lever 84' in adirection to engage and lift the overhanging arm 83 and thus breakthetoggle 8081. As hereinbefore' explained this permits the press spring 76 to forcethe press platen 74 downu' ard on top' of the heel block,while held in the former. I After the tripping lever 84 has beenactuated by its cam 92 to break the toggle the cam 64 operates to returnthe former to its heel block receiving position on the table 36.

Before the former can be moved outwardly by the action of the cam 64, itis necessary to first trip the latch 47 so as to permit the arms or aws39 to swing outwardly on their pivots 38 to disengage the heelblOClQWVl'llcll at this time is firmly clamped in the press. This isaccomplished through the means of the former actuatinglink which, in theinitial portion of its outward movement under the action of its cam 64,operates to carry an adjustable lug or striker 95' (Fig. 6), fastened onone side thereof, into engagen'ient with the tail 96 of the latch 47.This swings the latch about its pivot in a direction to unlock the jaws39' of the former. in advance of any shifting moveinent of the latter.

This initial motion, to permit the preliminary unlocking of the latch47, is provided for by slotting the forward end of the link 60 as at 97(Fig. 4) Where it connects with the pin 59, so that the link may havethe requisite motion to move the latch 47 before any movement isimpartedto the slide After the link 60 h'as'been' moved suiticiently byits cam 64 to cause the preliminary opening of the latch 47, itscontinued forward movement operates to shift the slide 33 outwardly, andthe former arms 39 swing outwardly as'their surfaces move the' continuedforward movement of the slide 33, the pivoted arms 39 of" the former areagain swung together as their cam surfaces 45 arrive in contact withvthe fixed abutments 46.

It is desirable'that, afterthe' slide 33 has retracted the former to itsfilling position, the operating link 60 thereof be slightly retracted toagain take up the lost motion at 97 so that when the slide is to beagain shifted inwardly this transfer movement will occur positivelywithout loss of time. This result is obtained by so designing the cams63 and 64 that at one point, as 98 of each (Fig. 8), their cam groovesare effective, after the cams have turned through the angle necessary toproject the slides 33 forwardly, to reverse the motion of the act'uatinglinks GOjust sufficiently to take up the play the slots 97 and thenholdthe links 60 in this position.

In practice, with both right and left hand formers in filling position,the operative will first charge the left hand former with pasted liftsto form a heel block and then in due time, the filled former willautomatically move inwardly to deposit the heel block in a pressstructure. Meanwhile the operative .1

will be filling the right hand former while this is still maintained inits filling position. Before the right hand former is moved inwardly byits cam 63, the left hand former will have been brought forward again byits cam 64', the lever 84 in the meantime having been operated to permitthe automatic closing of the press platen 74. When the right hand formeris shifted inwardly over an alined press bed plate 7 3, the platentoggle members will be broken through the agency of another unlockinglever 99 engageable with the registering press arm 83,. operated in themanner, described for the lever 84, by a cam 100 which is timed torelease the platen to the control of its spring just at this time. Assoon as the platen 74 has been automatically closed to clamp the heelblock to the bed plate 73, the cam 63 operates to move its link 60forwardly with the consequent operations on the former hereinbeforedescribed.

With the cams 63 and 64 so designed and disposed that they will operate"to alternately shift first one and then the other of the formers from anouter, or filling, position to an inner, or press loading position andthen to maintain them alternately, and for a period ofboth of themsimultaneously, in their outer positions, it will be seen that theoperative may constantly be filling one or the other of the formers.

The illustrated form of the invention is llli with the formers. a pairof heel blocks which have previously been formed and loaded into thepresses and have passed around the entire orbit will have been broughtup to an unloading or ejecting station. in the present case just to theright of the loading station (see Figs. 1 and 2). At the dischargingstation mechanism is provided to unclamp the blocks in a pair of pressessimultaneously and then eject the blocks from the machine. Theunclamping mechanism comprises a trip lever 105 (Fig. which. is providedwith a pair of rigid parallel arms 106 arranged to overhang thetoggle-actuating arms 83. The lever 105 is pivoted upon the pivot rod85, and it has a rearwardly extending arm connected, at 107, to avertical link 108, to the lower end of which link there is connected abell-crank cam lever 109, pivoted on the pivot rod 90. The cam lever 109carries, at the end of its upright arm, a roll 110 which engages agroove in a cam disk 111 mounted on the cam shaft 19. The cam is sodesigned that during the interval in which a pair of presses are haltedat the unloading station, the lever 105 is roeked'so that its: arms 106will press downwardly against the arms 83, so that the toggle links S081of the two presses at the unloading station are straightened and liftthe respective platens 74. upwardly against the pressure of theirsprings 76, thus releasing the heel blocks in the presses.

As soon as the heel blocks have been thus released they are ejected fromthe machine into a forwardly and downwardly inclined discharge chute 115(Figs. 3 and 5), at the upper front portion of the machine. by means ofan ejector comprising a rearwardly extending forked member 117 (Figs. 3and 41) which is pivoted, at its rear end, on an upright supporting link118. The ejector is connected to a cam lever 119 which has a roller 120engaging a groove in a cam disk 121 on the shaft 19. The forward forkedend of the ejector 117 is provided with V-shaped faces 122 (Fig. 3)which are arranged to operate in a substantially horizontal plane toengage and eject the pair of heel blocks at the discharging station,when the cam 121 advances the ejector.

The vertical webs 72 of the bed plates 73 are provided with apertures123 (Fig. through which the ejector ends 122 may move forwardly toengage and eject the heel. blocks. While the conveyer is in motion theejector 117 is held in a retracted position.

The machine is started and stopped by means of a treadle 130 (Figs. 1 to41) secured upon a treadle shaft 131 which, by reason of a suitablyconnected torsion spring 132, continuously tends to rock in a directionto render the driving mechanism inoperative, On one end of the treadleshaft 131 is secured an upwardly extending arm 133 to which is connecteda rearwardly extending horizontal link 1341, the opposite end of whichis connected to a lever 135 (Figs. 1 and 9), mounted on the pivot shaft90, and carrying, on its upwardlyextending arm. a roller 136 adapted tointerlock with a stop plate 137 secured on the cam shaft 19. Thestopplate is formed with a plurality of shoulders 138 for engagementwith the roller 136. On the other end of the shaft 131 is an upwardlyextending arm 133, connected to one end of a link 13 1 (Fig. 41) theother end of which is connected, at 140, to a lever 141. The lever ispivoted on a stud 1 12 mounted in a foot bearing 143 provided for theouter end of the shaft 11. At the upper end of the lever 1411 a link 114 connects the lever to one end of a concaved clutch shoe 145, pivotedat 1 16 upon the foot bearing 113 (see dotted lines Fig. 4). The clutchshoe 1-15 is adapted to engage with a pin 147 which is secured to theclutch member 12.. so as to interrupt the rotation of the latter andthus discon nect the shaft 11 from driving relation with the pulley 10.hen the operative desires to start the machine, he depresses the foottreadle 130. which swings the arm 133 forward. against the torsionaleffect of the spring 132 on the treadle shaft 131, and shifts the link1341' forward to rock the lever 1 11 and withdraw the clutch shoe 1 15from engagen'ient with the clutch pin 147. The clutch member 12 is thuspeijmitted to become oneratively enga ed with its complementary member,and the shaft 11 is turned.

The operative'may either continue to hold the foot treadle 130 down ormay lock it in its lower position by a lock arm 150. pivoted at 151,which is adapted to be swung horizontally over the depressed end of thereadle 130 and thus hold the latter in this position. When the operativedesires to in terrupt the operation of the machine the locking arm 150may be turned horizontally with the foot, so as to release the treadle13.0. As soon thereafter as the roller encounters one of the depressionsin the stop-plate 137, the spring 132 is permitted to rock the shaft 131in a direction to throw out the driveclutch. and, the camshaft and otherparts are then brought to rest. in the proper position. by theengagement with the roller 136 of the stop-shoulder This invention isnot limited'to the embodiment thereof hereinbefore described and.illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

but it may be embodied in various other forms within the scope of thefollowing claims.

)Vhat is claimed as new, is

1. A. machine of the character described, having in combination, atraveling carrier,

devices, toroperating upon heel blocks, sustained by said carrier,means, constantly .presented in receiving position, on which lifts areassembled into heel blocks and operative to transfer each block asassembled. to one-of said devices on the carrier, and means to operatethe carrier to present new devices to said .n'ieans for each operationthereof.

2, A machine of the character described, having in combination, atraveling carrier, devices sustainedby the carrier for applying pressureto green heel blocks, and block forming means, for shaping the blocksfrom superposed heel lifts, alternately operative .to transfer theblocks to said pressure apply- .ing devices.

I 3. A heel-building machine having, in combination, a series ofintermittently. and bodily movable heel block presses, a heelformer-arranged and adapted to shape piledheel lifts into the propercontour of block by engagement with the lateral surfaces of the liftsincluding the breasts thereof, and means foractuatingr the former totransfer the shaped heel'blocks to the presses.

4. A heel-building machine having, in combination, a plurality ofshiftable heel block formers, a series of traveling heel block pressesto Which the bloclzs are transferred by said formers, means to move theformers toward and from the presses. and means to automatically closethe pr ses upon the blocks in the formers before the Withdrawal of theformers from the presses.

5. A heel-building machine having, in combination, a series ofautomatically openin; and. closing presses for receiving andholding-heel blocks under pressure, an d a heel matrix having side andbreast gases for shaping piled, pasted heel lifts int-o heel blocks ofgiven form, said matrix beinsr movable to transfer the shaped blocks tosaid presses, hold the blocks thereat until the presses close, andthen'he withdrawn leaving the blocks in the presses.

6. A heel-building; machine havin in combination, an endless series ofheel block presses operative to clamp and carrygreen heel blocks for aperiod sufiicient to permit substantial setting of th paste, and thenautomatically release the blocks. means comprising a heel-former having:side and breast gages for shaping freshly pasted lil'ts into heel blocksof given form, and means to operate said shaping means to transfer theshaped blocks to the presses, said shaping means being constructed topermit withdraWal from the blocks when they are clamped by the presses.

7. A heel-building machine having, in combination, a' series of heelblock presses intermittently movable through a predetermined orbit.means for automatically opening and'closing the presses at predeterminedstations in their orbit to permit theinsert-ion and discharge of heelblocks, and a heel matrix'having side and breast operative to transferthe shaped block'to an open press and deposit it therein.

' 8. A -heel-building machine having, in

gages for shaping freshly pasted heel lifts in-to heel blocks ofpredetermined contour,

combination, a plurality of traveling presses,

means for intermittently advancing the presses, a slide carrying a. heelblock former,

said former comprising movable gage arms for atvs latched. in closedposition, means for actuating the slide to deposit a heel block in apress, and, means for automatically un latching the members of theformer after it has deposited a blankfin a press, thereby permittingopening ofthe jaws and the With- .dra val of the former from thedeposited blank.

9.1K heel-buildin machine having in "combination, a plura ityof-traveling presses, means for mtermittent-ly advancing the presses, aslide carrying a heel block former, said former comprising :mova-blegage arms .or jaws latched in closed position, means for actuating theslide to deposit aheel block in a press, means for automaticallyunlatching the members of the former after it has deposited-a blankinapress, thereby permit- "ting opening of thejaivs and the Withdrawalcombination, a traveling, automatic heel block press, means forimparting movement to the press, means for shaping freshly pasted heelblocks movable to carry said blocks into position to be clamped by thepress, and means outside the press structure operating after a time forengaging I and automatically ejecting the pressed b'locks from thepress.

11. A. heel-building machine having, in. combination, an intermittentlymovable,

endless train of relatively articulated heel block presses, means forshaping'prreen heel blocks and holding them in position to be clamped inpresses registering with said -.means during intervals 01 rest of thepress train, and means operative during the same interval to removepreviously pressed. blocks from other presses.

12. A heel-building inachine having, in combination, a plurality offormers for shaping superposed heel lifts into a heel block. of givencontour, an'endle'ss carrier, with a plurality of presses, movable tointermittently and progressively present to all of said formers acorresponding number of the presses, and means to actuate the I formersto p'l'ace th'eir heel blocks -in'-'the presses.

13. A. heel-building machine having, in combination, an endless seriesof heel block presses arranged for simultaneous, intermittent travel,and means for loading a plurality of said presses with heel blocksduring an interval of rest. I

14. A heel-building machine having, in combination, an intermittentlymovable endless series of heel-block presses, a heel former in which aheel-block may be as sembled, by superposing lifts therein constructedand arranged to engage the breast and sides of the lifts and shape themto a predetermined contour of heel block, and means for moving theformer to bring the shaped heel block therein into position within oneof the presses during a dwell in the intermittent movement of thelatter.

- 15. A heel-building machine, having, in combination, a heel blockpress comprising a series of bed plates successively movable to heelreceiving position and a clamping device mo-vable toward and from eachbed plate; a heel former, constructed to surround lifts in a pile withtheir breast edges alined and having yielding side members to providefor withdrawal from the heel, mova-- ble to successively load said bedplates, while in heel receiving position, with assembled heels; andmeans for automatically operating said clamping devices as the heels aredelivered to the bed plates by the former and then withdrawing theheel-former from the clamped heels.

16. In a heel-making machine, a series of heel-holders, each holderhaving means for clamping a heel thereon, means to move said holderssuccessively into a heel-receiving position, a heel-former includinganend wall to engage the breast of a heel therein and aline the componentlifts thereof, and means to move said former to deliver the alined liftsonto each holder when in said receiving position.

17. In a. heel-making machine, a series of heel-holders, each holderhaving means for clamping a heel thereon. means to move said holderssuccessively into a heel-receiving position. and a heel-formerconstructed to engage both the breast and the lateral surface of a heeltherein to aline the component lifts thereofreciprocally movable to andfrom said position to deliver the alined lifts to said holders.successively, when in said position.

18. In a heel-making machine, a series of heel-holders. each holderhaving a heel-receiving seat and means for clamping a heel thereon.means to move said holders in a predetermined path, successively into aheel-re ceiving position in which the seat thereof is held horizontally,and a heel-former constructed to aline lifts placed therein into heelform by engagement with their breasts, sides and backs movabletransversely of said path to deliver the alined lifts onto each holderwhen in said receiving position.

19. In a heel-making machine, a series of heel-holders, each holderhaving a heel-receiving seat and means for clamping a heel thereon,means to move said holders in a predetermined path, into aheel-receiving position, successively, in which the seat thereof is heldhorizontally, and a heel-former comprising gaging members for engagingthe breasts of the heel lifts therein to vertically aline said breastsone above the other horizontally reciprocal transversely of said path todeliver alined lifts onto each holder when in said receiving position.

20. In a heel-making machine, a series of heel-holders, successivelymovable into a heel-receiving position, a heel matrix having gagingmeans at its breast end, sides and back for receiving and alining thecomponent lifts of a heel placed therein movable to deliver the alinedlifts onto said holders when in said position, a clamping device foreach holder, and automatic means for moving each clamping device intoclamping position when the alined lifts are delivered onto itscorresponding holder.

21. In a heel-building machine, a heelclamp having a horizontallydisposed member, a heel-form movable from a filling position to adelivering position directly over said member and having aheel-receiving recess therein open at top and bottom, means on said formarranged to engage the breast side and the back side of a heel in saidrecess, means to actuate the other member of the clamp to clamp a heelwhile held by said form in said delivering position, and meanspermitting the forming means at the rear side of the form to yield topermit the form to be withdrawn from the heel, while held by the clamp.I

22. An automatic heelblock pressing machine having, in combination, anendless series of heel block presses arranged to be moved simultaneouslyin intermittent steps, means for loading a press of the series, andmeans for concurrently unloading the next following press.

2-3. A press having, in combination, a plurality of clamps arranged inan endless series, each clamp being provided with a spring by which itis closed means for moving the series of clamps in a definite pathsuccessively past a given point: a device engageable with each clamp atsaid point; and additional means to move said device transversely of-the path of motion of the clamp to open the clamp against theopposition of 1 said spring.

2 1-. A press having, in combination, a plurality of clamps arranged inan endless series, each clamp being provided with a spring by which itis closed; means cooper-' able with the clamps successively to open themagainstthe opposition of said springs; andm'eclianisni for moving theclamps successively into and out of cooperative relation with said meansand for actuating said means independently of the advancing-movement ofthe clamps.

'25. A press .h ring, in combination, a plurality 0i clan'ips arrangedin an endlessseries: means for moving the clamps successively past aloading station; expansion springs acting normally to hold the clampsclosed; clampecontrolling devices operating to open the clanipsgby acompression of said springs on approaching said'loading station, saidclamps remaining open until they are loaded; and means movable acrossthe line oftravel. of the clamps for ejecting the work before theloading station is reached.

'26. A heel making machine having, in combination, an endless series ofmovable heel presses each comprising an ,upper'inember and a lowermember between. which heel stock is clamped and held; means normallytending to actuate said heel presses into clamping relation; means forintermittently actuating said series of heel presses; means operatingduring periods of rest of said heel presses for opening a heel press;and means acting while the heel press is open to introduce a heel stocktherein.

27. A heel making machine having, in combination. an endless series ofheel presses intermittently movable and each comprising relativelymovable members between which ,a heel block may be introduced inposition to have its opposite faces engaged thereby means movable insubstantially the plane of the faces of the clamps for removing thepressed heel blocks therefrom; a heel form lfor shapingsaid heel blocks;and means for actuating said .form to supply new heel blocks to theempty presses.

28. A heel making machine having, in

combinatioman endless series of heel presses,

'each. comprising relatively movable memhers for engaging the oppositefaces of a heel block disposed therein; means normally tending toactuate said members intoclamping relation; means for advancing saidheel presses in steps; and means operable during periodsoi rest of saidadvancing means for opening the heel presses successively. 29. heelmaking machine having, in combination, a series of heel pressesinternittently movable through an unloading station means tending tohold the heel presses 'in clamping relation; and'm'eans disposed ,atsaid station and operable during periods of rest. of said heel pressesfor opening the heel presses ,as they are successively pre sentedthereto. a

30. A heel making machine having, in combination, an ;endl ess.series ofheel presses comprising pairs of clamping plates, ato'ggle connected toeach press through which the open ng and closing of the press iscontrolled, means for advancing said series or presses intermittentlythrough a fixed orbit,

and means for operating said toggle during periods of rest of the pressstructure to open and close the presses.

31. A heel' making machine having, in combinatioman endless series ofheel presses comprising pairs of clamping plates, a to-ggle connected toeach press through which the opening and closing of the press iscontrolled, means for advancing said series of presses intermittentlythrough a fixed orbit, and means having a fixed relation to the orbitofthe movable press structure for operating said toggle successively.

82. A heel making machine having, in

combination, an-endless series ofheel presses proper contour of blockcomprising a pair,

of jaws, each provided with gages for the rear lateral surface and thebreast end of theheel, said aws being relatively movable about pivots atone end thereof, and means for actuating the former to transfer theshaped heel blocks to the presses.

8a. A heel machine having, 'in combination, a series of intermittentlyand bodily moving heel block presses; a heel'rformer arranged andadapted to shape piled heel lifts into the proper contour of blockcomprising a pair of jaws, said jaws being pivoted at one end topermitan opening and closing movement, and each being providedwitha'breast gage at the'pivoted end'th'ereo f and a rear lateralsurface gage at the open end; and means for actuating the former totransfer the shaped heel blocks to the presses. 35. A heel machinehaving in comb-ination, a plurality of travelling presses, means forintermittently advancing the presses. a heel-f0rmer comprising side jawspivotally mounted atone end and open at the other, each jaw having sideand breast gages for alining lifts deposited therebetween 'to a shapedheel pile, means for advancing said former to deposit a shaped heel in apress, and means for maintaining said aws in closed relation during saidadvance constructed and arranged to permit them to open about theirpivoted ends to withdraw from the heel after it has been deposited.

36. A heel machine having, in combination, an endless series of heelclamps, each comprising relatively movable members for engaging. theopposite faces of superposed pieces of heel stock; means continuallytending to actuate said members into clamping relation; means foradvancing said heel clamps in steps; means operable during periods ofrest of said advancing means for opening the members of the heel clamps;and means for delivering heel stock to said clamps while the membersthereof are open, and for thereafter permitting said members to closeupon the stock delivered thereto.

37. A heel machine having, in combination, an endless series of heelclamps, each comprising relatively movable members for en gaging theopposite faces of superposed pieces of heel stock; means continuallytend ing to actuate said members into clamping relation; means foradvancing said heel clamps in steps; and means operable during periodsof rest of said advancing means for automatically opening said membersto receive the heel stock and then permitting said members to close onthe heel stock disposed therebetween.

38. A heel press having, in combination, a movable carrier; means forintermittently moving said carrier in steps; an endless series of heelclamps mounted on said carrier comprising members for engaging theopposite faces of heel stock disposed therein; and means operating uponone of said members of each clamp during periods of rest of said carrierfor opening and closing said clamps.

39. A heel press having, in combination, a. movable carrier; means forintermittently moving said carrier in steps; an endless series of heelclamps mounted on said carrier comprising members for engaging theopposite faces of heel stock disposed therein; a spring on each clamparranged to continually urge one of its members toward the other toclamp the heel stock; and means operating during periods of rest of saidcarrier for withdrawing a member against the force of said spring toopen the clamp, and thereafter releasing said member to again clamp theheel stock.

40. A heel machine having, in combination, a plurality of heel clampingpresses mounted on a movable carrier, means for imparting anintermittent movement to said carrier to advance the heel presses, and adevice automatically presented in receiving position on which lifts areassembled into heel form and operative to transfer each heel asassembled to one of said presses on the carrier as the movement thereofpresents said presses to said device.

tween which heels are clamped and held,

means for moving said presses simultan eously to cause them tosuccessively travel past said device, said device being bodily movableto transfer each heel as assembled to one of the presses, and means forautomatically returning said device to heel building position after eachtransfer of a heel to a press.

42. A heel pressing machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel presses, each comprising a pair of clamps, arranged to be advancedsimultaneously in intermittent steps; means for successively closingsaid clamps, upon heels positioned therebetween, at one station in theorbit of the presses; means for successively opening said clamps atanother station in said orbit; and

reciprocating means operating after the clamps are opened foraccomplishing an ejection of the pressed heels in succession.

43. A heel pressing machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel presses comprising pairs of clamping plates, means for advancingsaid presses in intermittent steps through. a clamping and an unclampingstation, a power operated actuator at the clamping station for acting onone of the clamping plates of each press in succession to close thepresses on heels positioned between said plates, and another poweroperated actuator at the unclamping station for acting a second time onsaid clamping plate to successively open the presses.

44. A heel pressing machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel presses comprising pairs of clamping plates, means for advancingsaid presses in intermittentsteps through a clamping and an unclampingstation, a power operated actuator at the clamping station forsuccessively acting on one of the clampin plates of each press to closethe presses on heels positioned between said plates another poweroperated actuator at the unclamping station for acting a sec ond time onsaid clamping plate to successively open the presses, and means forthereafter forcibly ejecting the pressed heels from the conveyor.

45. A heel pressing machine having, in combination, an endless chainconveyor, spaced-sprockets for "supporting said conveyor, means forrotating said sprockets intermittently to advance the conveyor through aplurality of stations, a plurality of heel presses comprising pairs ofclamping plates mounted on said conveyor and advanced thereby step bystep through said stations including a clamping station and anunclamping station, means operating during the period of rest at theclamping station for successively closing the clamping plates of eachpress on heels positioned therebetween, and means operating during theperiod of rest at the unclamping station for successively opening theclamping plates of each press to permit the pressed heels to be removedfrom the conveyor.

46. A heel machine having, in combination, means for holding a heelunder pressure, means for advancing said holding means through anejecting station and a loading station, and means for releasing thepressure from the heel and effecting its ejection including a devicecarried by the hold ing means for retaining said holding means inreleased position during its movement through said loading station.

47. A heel machine having, in combination, a normally closedheel-clamping press, means for advancing the press through an ejectingstation and a loading station, and means for opening the press to permit816C- tion of the heel, said means operating automatically to retain thepress open While the pressed heel is ejected and until it has beenloaded with a new heel.

48. A heel machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel-clamping presses, mechanism for advancing said presses step-by-stepin a fixed orbit, means having a fixed relation to the orbit of themovable press structure for opening each press as it reaches said means,and a device carried by the press for retaining the press open as itadvances beyond the control of said means. i

49. A heel machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel-clamping presses, mechanism for advancing said presses step-by-stepin a fixed orbit, means having a fixed relation to the orbit'of themovable press structure for opening each press as it reaches said means,a device carried by the press for retaining the press open as itadvances'beyond the control of said means, and means co-operating withsaid device for closing the press on a new heel loaded therein.

50. A heel machine having, in combination, an endless series ofheel-clamping presses each provided with a spring through A ERASTUS E.WINKLEY.

